"I can't even see if my pads are low.
Worst brake design ever."
Well, I don't know bout that -
Back in the day, to inspect the brake shoe thickness, one had to first jack up the car with a flimsy bumper jack, then go find the cement blocks (that your dad used for something else) to put under the car, then find the big star lug nut wrench (that your brother used and didn't put back), then take off the wheel.
Next, pull on the brake drum and see that it is stuck, so go find the BFH (that someone didn't put back in the combine's tool box) then beat on the drum to the point you were afraid you were going to break it. Then if you were lucky, the drum would pop off, exposing you to a face full of finely ground asbestos fibers for you to inhale.
NOW, you can inspect the brake shoes for wear.
Oh, did I mention that, just as you started, it was getting dark and starting to snow and the wind was whipping snow around from both sides of the car?
humfrz
PS - I left out important step, who knows what it was?